New PCS Staff

Fiona Robertson

Ms. Arthur

Ms. Arthur is a new math teacher at PCS. Ms. Arthur teaches Pre-Algebra and Algebra. Although she likes Algebra topics better, her favorite thing about Pre-Algebra is the age group. Ms. Arthur appreciates the staff connections and support system in PCS, along with the culture around gender identification. When she first came to PCS, she was shocked to find that there was not a large behavior management system, and was even more surprised to find that she didn’t really need one. Her advice for future teachers is to find “planning buddies” or other teachers to work with. She states she had to learn how to utilize tutorials, but likes being able to have office hours open to all students. Ms. Arthur says the academic rigor was overwhelming at first, but has been manageable thanks to the awesome teacher support system. Additionally, she was amazed by how the students take initiative and are responsible for their work. Ms. Arthur also appreciates her freedom when it comes to her teaching style. She loves that brain breaks are implemented into the classes, and thinks seminars and tutorials are great systems to help encourage students.

 

Ms. Wong-VanHaren

Ms. Wong-VanHaren is the new 9th grade History teacher and our new Current Issues teacher. She enjoys teaching both 9th and 12th graders because it allows her to see their growth and change over their high school careers, connecting with other staff and teachers, and the fact that she gets to work with highly skilled students. While her experience at PCS has been wonderful, she still wishes she had her own classroom. She also wishes she could be on campus for tutorials. Surprised about our sports and the lack of P.E. programs but was very impressed with Fusion, Ms. Wong-VanHaren is hoping to get involved next year.

 

Mr. Wallraff

Mr. Wallraff is the new drama teacher at PCS; his classes include Drama 1,2,3 and Advanced Drama. He loves Drama One’s enthusiasm, Drama Two’s attention to detail, Drama Three’s fearlessness, and Advanced Drama’s commitment to the art. He also loves seeing the students at PCS in a theater setting. Mr. Wallraff wishes that when he first taught at PCS he understood what a brain break was, but now thinks it is a wonderful program for students to get exercise and take a break from academic work. He adores the staff support system, and thinks the other teachers are awesome. Mr. Wallraff thinks the students here are really nice and appreciates working with older students because he can have more in-depth conversations with them compared to the younger ages he used to work with.

 

Mr. Martin

Mr. Martin is the new Graphic Design and Art 1 teacher. He cherishes the community, respect, and ambition of PCS’ students and their pushes for diversity, inclusivity and equality. He wishes he knew just how beneficial tutorials were and appreciates how deeply it helps students. He treasures his experience at PCS and says his experience has been super positive, welcoming, and supportive. Mr. Martin expresses that his year here has been eye opening, and wishes most schools operated like PCS because teachers can impact and assist students. He notes that PCS is ahead of the academic curve, and that he has experienced many good challenges. Mr. Martin appreciates how the school has planned steps for individual students, provides mental health help, promotes inclusion, and has a good communication system. Furthermore, he looks forward to seeing the growth and development of his students.

 

Ms. Cline-Arellano

Ms. Cline-Arellano is Pacific Collegiate’s new school counselor and 7th & 8th grade academic advisor. She leads socio-emotional mental health counseling, and runs many small groups including Stress Busters, Vent Space, Executive Functioning, Anxiety Management, Girls and Non-Binary Support Groups with more to come! Her favorite things about PCS are the staff support systems and the students that visit her room. She says she wishes she knew more about how a charter school worked before joining PCS, because it was so different from her previous experiences at other schools. Her experience at PCS has been a wild ride, but she is grateful for the community. She thinks the smaller size of PCS allows more proactivity, and loves the dedication of many teachers’ to be involved with their students.

 

Mr. Walker

Mr. Walker is the new Special Education and part-time Study Skills and Technology (SS-Tech) teacher. One of his favorite things about PCS is the freedom given for students to learn. Moreover, he appreciates the initiative students take when they are challenged. But, he only wishes he could remember more of his Chemistry and Calculus classes. His advice is to not be afraid to ask for help, and that class planning can be difficult, so just try your best. He loves PCS and says he feels very welcomed, and that he has learned a lot. Mr. Walker says that compared to other schools, PCS doesn’t have a huge sports program, but is less strict and more trusting of the students. He appreciates PCS’ guidance for students while also giving them independence and the opportunities to be responsible.

 

Mr. Dobie

Mr. Dobie is the new 7th grade History and Rhetoric teacher. His favorite thing about PCS is our effort for an inclusive community. He wishes he knew more about the Constitution before coming to PCS, and advises prospective teachers to get to know the staff and PCS’s amazing group of teachers. His experience has been very positive, and he feels well-supported by the staff and his amazing students. PCS is the first school that he’s taught at in the U.S., and he loves that we focus on academic success and work to include everyone.

 

Mr. Ramirez

Mr. Ramirez is the newest Assistant Principal, and Academic Advisor for 9th and 10th grade. He manages safety, discipline, previous COVID-19 testing, and more. Mr. Ramirez regrets not knowing our community better before joining, though he is still very inspired by the amazing and hardworking students at PCS. He advises new teachers to focus on relationships with the PCS students and staff. He says his experience at PCS has been eye-opening, and he appreciates how committed the students are at PCS. However, the vice-principal feels that kids can put too much pressure on themselves to succeed, and recommends that students focus on who they want to be, not letting their peers guide their personal dreams and aspirations. Mr. Ramirez says that compared to other schools PCS is very focused on academics and is a very hardworking school. He admires how students are invested in being successful and their willingness to participate in so many activities. He wishes we had a gym or a place to build school spirit, but is overall really excited to continue working at PCS.

 

Mr. Ball

Mr. Ball teaches Choir, Intro to Performing Arts, SS-Tech, and is vocal director for Pacific Collegiate’s musicals. His favorite things about PCS are the sense of community, the school culture, and the level of respect between students and teachers. He mentioned he wishes he had a better understanding of block schedules before starting, as the new program has its own challenges, but says his experience at PCS has been amazing, and feels well-supported by his fellow staff members. Mr. Ball says PCS is a closer community and a much smaller school than he is used to but is impressed by the level of extracurriculars and AP classes the school has to offer.

 

Mr. Gabriel Kittle-Cervine

Mr. Gabriel Kittle-Cervine (Mr. G) is the study hall monitor, volunteer organizer, and event planner. His favorite thing about PCS is the community, his coworkers, and the creativity level. He was already involved in the PCS community since he attended PCS as a student, so he was familiar with the school. He says his experience at PCS has been lovely and that he feels welcomed. This is his first time working at a school, and so he is getting to brush up on some previous subjects. He says that PCS is super open and accepting and thinks it’s neat to see such an intergenerational community.